The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) is Australia's national transport safety investigator. The ATSB's function is to improve safety and public confidence in the aviation, marine and rail modes of transport. The ATSB is Australia's prime agency for the independent investigation of civil aviation, rail and maritime accidents, incidents and safety deficiencies.

Summary

Summary

On 28 July 2015 a Cicaré CH-7Bt, registered VH-JEW, collided with terrain near Roy Hill Station in Western Australia. The pilot and sole occupant was fatally injured as a result of the accident.

The ATSB examined the helicopter wreckage and identified that the stabiliser had separated in-flight from the tail boom as a result of fatigue cracking of the stabiliser mount (Figure 1).

This was the second fatal accident involving in-flight stabiliser separation on Cicaré CH-7B series helicopters (AO-2014-086). The ATSB has notified the Civil Aviation Safety Authority and is working with the helicopter manufacturer on this issue.

On 6 August 2015 an information letter was emailed to registered Cicaré CH-7B owners, informing them of the second accident, the mechanism of stabiliser failure and a recommendation to ensure the integrity of the stabiliser prior to further operation and on an ongoing basis. The content of the letter is available on the ATSB website.

The investigation is continuing and will seek to identify the factors contributing to the stabiliser support cracking.

The information contained in this web update is released in accordance with section 25 of the Transport Safety Investigation Act 2003 and is derived from the initial investigation of the occurrence. Readers are cautioned that new evidence will become available as the investigation progresses that will enhance the ATSB's understanding of the accident as outlined in this web update. As such, no analysis or findings are included in this update.